January 22, 2004

NEWS RELEASE

Collection assists the Church in Central and Eastern Europe

The collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe will be taken up in the parishes of the Archdiocese of Portland on Ash Wednesday, February 25.This special collection is optional for the parishes in the Archdiocese.The theme for this year’s collection is “Roots of Faith both Fragile and Strong.”

The collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe is sharing in the full restoration of a Catholic society at the crossroads.Its goal is to nurture the growth of hope.Pope John Paul II described this hope “which is stronger than every fear and doubt, hope that has sustained the faith of our brothers and sisters of the Churches of the East during times in which it was hard and personally risky to believe and to hope.”The Church helps the faithful spread the Word of God over large territories, works for social justice for the needy, provides education for the faithful, assists in the training and formation of religious and provides services for the homeless, the elderly, children and families in need.

Since the fall of communism, the Catholic Church is the most stable institution in East European society.Catholics there are replanting the roots of faith after three generations of religious persecution.They have witnessed the destruction or closing of churches, monasteries, and seminaries, the near extinction of vibrant religious traditions, the exile of priests, religious and practicing lay people to labor camps and prisons, and the end of charitable and ecclesiastical activities.This is a new age for the Church in this part of the world, and Catholics in the United States are asked to help by their support for this collection. 

Since 1991, this collection has supported more than 3,500 church projects in more than 20 countries.Much has been done, but there is more to do.Catholics in Western Oregon are encouraged to be as generous as possible in helping to provide aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe by supporting this collection. 

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